You’ve already committed to this version of your ideal future, this is just a little reminder that there may be something more important right now than whatever the deal on offer is.

Research Your Shop

Researching is best done when you have plenty of time to think about the specifications you need.

For example, if you want a new television, it’s useful to know what features you want. Like the type of display, its focal length, the resolution, refresh rate, the number of HDMI ports, connectivity to online services like Netflix and whether you’ll need to upgrade your sound system at the same time.

Visiting a physical store will allow you to compare and short-list different brands and models as well as do some purchase and delivery price comparison before you buy.

Doubly so for clothes, bedding and other home furnishings – you’ll probably be happier if you confirm the colours and textures are the ones you want.

Refine Your Shopping List

With your research complete, you can now write a very specific shopping list, for example:

A very specific list like this reminds you what it is you want. If it turns out you can’t get it, you have enough information to substitute without further research. For example:

Different labels or ribbon to match your black and red Christmas theme.

A turquoise dress to match your gold shoes.

A different brand of quilt with the same features you want.

Prioritise

There are only 24 hours in a day, and depending on where you’re shopping, possibly even less. It may not be possible to get everything you want, so you need to think about what’s the most important.

That might be particular items, the biggest savings or items that are located the furthest away. You might choose to shop locally in the morning, and online at an earlier timezone in the afternoon (or vice versa).

It might also be helpful to allocate a time-frame, so that if you can’t get something you want in an hour, you move onto the next thing on your list.

Prepare for Traps

On and off-line shops will try to make you buy more than you want, and stop you from leaving.

Make some time to think about the tricks they might use, and how you will deal with them:

If you wouldn’t buy one of something, two or more at a discount is not a good deal. Similarly, if a sign limits you to X number, don’t buy more than is on your list unless you know you can use them.

When you get tired (or cranky) – take a break, sit somewhere quiet and ask yourself whether you should continue or quit.

Stay focused on your shopping list.

This is only a few suggestions, any internet search will probably generate even more.

Keep Calm

In the end, it’s not the end of the world if you can’t buy a bunch of stuff at a discount. And if it’s not stuff you’d consider buying full price, why are you thinking about buying it on sale?

For more, check out Holistic Personal Finance

Advice on managing wealth usually means sacrificing things that make life worthwhile. Holistic Personal Finance shows you how to manage your money according to the life you want. You can enjoy lattes, lunches with friends, and a prosperous tomorrow.

Stop worrying about how to pay for your life – relax and enjoy it. Buy now in:

I acknowledge the Wurundjeri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land this website is created and maintained on. I pay respect to their Elders both past and present and extend that respect to other Aboriginal nations.